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LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 489

(k) The author shall consider the critique and make necessary 
revisions until there is agreement between the author and the 
reviewer(s). 
(l) Should any problem arise between an author, the reviewer(s), 
the publisher, or any other party involved with respect to the 
material submitted for review, the sponsoring group shall 
endeavor to resolve it to the satisfaction of the reviewer(s). If it 
cannot do so, the problem shall be submitted to the Commission 
on Doctrinal Review which shall follow the appeals procedure 
and criteria stated in Bylaw 3.9.3.2.11.9.4. 
1.9.3 After publication, any challenge to material that is subject 
to doctrinal review, no matter which process is used as listed in 
Bylaw 1.9.2, shall be handled according to the procedure and criteria 
specified in Bylaw 3.9.3.2.21.9.5. 
The following are relocated from Bylaw subsection 3.9.3: 
Appeals Prior to Publication 
3.9.3.2.11.9.4 Appeals regarding materials not yet published 
may be initiated by an author, the sponsoring group, or an executive 
staff member of that group and submitted to the chairman of the 
Commission on Doctrinal Review (Bylaws 3.9.3–3.9.3.2). 
(a) Within seven business days after receipt of an appeal, the 
chairman of the Commission on Doctrinal Review shall inform 
all concerned and shall appoint three members of the commission 
to serve as a review panel and shall designate one as its chairman. 
A panel member shall disqualify himself on the basis of any kind 
of personal involvement in the issue. 
(b) The review panel shall provide a copy of the appeal to the 
author and the sponsoring group and invite them to provide a 
response to the appeal. All parties to the appeal shall be given 14 
days to provide their response. 
(c) To aid objectivity, the identity of author and review panel 
shall ordinarily not be disclosed. However, consultation may at 
times be necessary for clarification. 
(d) In making its recommendation, the panel shall decide within 
30 days whether the item in question 
(1) is suitable for publication; or 
(2) may be published after alteration; or 
(3) may be published as a study document; or 
(4) shall be denied publication. 
(e) The decision of the panel shall be determined by a majority 
vote and shall be final so far as the Commission on Doctrinal 
Review is concerned. A report together with the panel’s minutes 
shall be submitted to the chairman of the Commission on 
Doctrinal Review. 
(f) The chairman of the commission shall report the decision 
within seven business days to the author, the original reviewer(s), 
the sponsoring group, and the President of the Synod. 
Appeals Following Publication 
3.9.3.2.21.9.5 A challenge to the doctrinal review certification of 
a published item may be initiated by any member of the Synod and 
shall be submitted in writing via mail or personal delivery to the 
chairman of the Commission on Doctrinal Review  (Bylaws 3.9.3–
3.9.3.2). 
(a) In order for the Commission on Doctrinal Review to consider 
a challenge, the challenger is obliged to provide specific 
references demonstrating how the published item is not in 
agreement with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. 
(b) After receipt of the challenge, the chairman of the 
commission shall within seven business days inform the 
President of the Synod, the sponsoring group, and, if applicable, 
Concordia Publishing House, shall appoint three members of the 
commission to serve as a review panel, and shall designate one 
as its chairman. 
(c) The chairman of the Commission on Doctrinal Review shall 
provide a copy of the appeal to the President of the Synod, the 
sponsoring group, and, if applicable, Concordia Publishing 
House, and offer them the opportunity to respond to the appeal 
within 14 days from the date of notification. 
(d) To aid in maintaining objectivity, the identity of the 
challenger and the identity of the panel will ordinarily not be 
disclosed. There shall be no publicity given to the appeal, nor an 
effort made to circularize the Synod on a pending appeal. 
(e) The panel shall after reviewing the published material 
declare, within 45 days following the expiry of the 14- day 
response period provided in Bylaw 3.9.3.2.21.9.5 (c), whether the 
doctrinal review certification is affirmed or revoked based on 
whether the published material is in agreement with the 
Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. 
(f) If the panel revokes the doctrinal review certification, it must 
identify the part(s) of the item in need of clarification, 
amplification, and/or deletion in order to bring into agreement 
with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, and withdraw the 
publication until such agreement is reached. 
(g) The panel will appoint one of its members to be the doctrinal 
reviewer for the recycling of the revised material to assure the 
item’s agreement with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions if 
republished. 
— 
Commission on Doctrinal Review 
3.9.3 The Commission on Doctrinal Review exists to assist the 
President of the Synod in the exercise of his responsibility that all 
doctrinal content in its or any of its agencies’ materials be in accord 
with the Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. 
3.9.3.1 The Commission on Doctrinal Review shall consist of five 
members appointed by the President of the Synod from the total 
number of doctrinal reviewers. 
(a) The commission shall elect its own officers. 
(b) The commission shall effect its own organization. 
3.9.3.2 The Commission on Doctrinal Review functions in 
accordance with Bylaw section 1.9 , including especially the 
handling of appeals under Bylaws 1.9.4 –5, and shall meet as often 
as necessary to provide guidelines for the work of doctrinal 
reviewers and to concern itself with problem areas in the procedures 
of doctrinal review and appeals. 
Commission on Handbook 
Ov. 9-05 
To Amend Various Bylaws  
for Purposes of Clarification or Improvement 
Preamble 
The Commission on Handbook (COH), responding to a variety of 
observations from officers, agencies, and members of the Synod, 
has proposed amendments to bylaws that have given opportunity to 
confusion or required repeated or nonobvious interpretation by the  
Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM). These are presented 
together for the sake of convention efficiency but each is logically 
independent of the others: 
A.  TO AMEND THE BYLAWS TO PROVIDE A 
MECHANISM FOR HANDLING SECRETARY 
INCAPACITY  
Rationale 
In its review (Op. 22-3002) of the Board of Directors (BOD) Policy 
Manual, the CCM noted that Policy 4.6.3.3, providing that “[t]he 
2026 Convention Workbook
454 STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION